The pyHtrans-RuCl4(py)2(1) and pyHtrans-RuCl4(CO)(py)(2) complexes were synthesized and found to crystallize in space group P21/n, Z = 4 with a = 8.080(7), b = 22.503(7), c = 10.125(6) Å, b = 93.19(6)° for (1) and a = 7.821(1), b = 10.337(3), c = 19.763(3) Å, b = 93.07(1)° for (2). The structures were solved by Patterson and difference Fourier techniques and refined to R = 0.062 for (1) and R = 0.038 for (2). In both cases the Ru(III) ion is octahedrally coordinated to four co-planar chlorine atoms, the nitrogen of the pyridine rings or carbon from the carbon monoxide. Another protonated pyridine group, which forms the counter-cation completes the crystal structures. The UV-Vis absorption spectra show three bands: (1) 360 (e = 1180 M-1 cm-1), 441 (e = 3200 M-1 cm-1) and 532 nm (e = 400 M-1 cm-1); (2) 315(e = 1150 M-1 cm-1), 442 (e = 3170 M-1 cm-1) and 530 nm (e = 390 M-1 cm-1). The two higher energy bands were associated with ligand-to-metal charge transfer transitions and a third band at lower energy was assigned to a d-d transition. Low temperature EPR data confirmed the presence of the paramagnetically active Ru(III) and it is consistent with axial symmetry of the complexes. The position of the stretching CO band in complex (2) is discussed in terms of metal-CO backbonding.